Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket: Full Schedule Downloadable PDF, Groups and Fixtures
Published on September 17, 2026
Summary Overview: Asian Games 2026 men's cricket: full schedule, groups and bracket, with fixtures in local, IST and ET, as India defend their T20 gold in Japan.
Gold on the Line in Japan: The Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket Guide
When and where is it?
The men's cricket tournament runs from September 24 to October 3, 2026, at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, played in the T20 format.
How many teams and who is favourite?
Ten teams take part. Defending champions India start as favourites, having won gold at Hangzhou 2023.
What is the format?
Six teams play a group stage, and the top two from each group join four seeded nations (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka) in the quarter-finals.
The Story: A Medal Event With Cricket's Giants
Cricket is back on the Asian Games programme, and there is a gold medal on the line. The men's tournament at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is a T20 competition (the 20-overs-per-side format) featuring ten Asian nations, with India aiming to defend the title they won at Hangzhou 2023, when they finished ahead of Afghanistan in a rain-hit final.
For readers new to this event: Asian Games cricket is a rare crossover between the sport and the multi-sport games, so teams are playing not for a trophy but for an actual Olympic-style medal. That gives it a different, high-stakes flavour.
How the Tournament Works
The ten teams are split into two stages. Six sides begin in the group phase, divided into two groups of three, and play a round-robin (everyone in the group plays each other once).
- Group A: Afghanistan, Japan (hosts), Nepal
- Group B: Hong Kong, Malaysia, Oman
The top two teams from each group then move into the quarter-finals, where they are joined by the four seeded nations who receive byes straight into the last eight: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. From there it is straight knockout: quarter-finals, semi-finals, then the bronze and gold medal matches.
The Quarter-Final Match-Ups
The seeding means we already know who the big four will face, even if the opponents are still to be decided:
- Pakistan play the Group B runners-up
- India play the Group A runners-up
- Sri Lanka play the Group A winners
- Bangladesh play the Group B winners
That sets up the tantalising possibility of an India vs Pakistan semi-final, the fixture the whole continent would want to see.
Storylines to Follow
India arrive as the team to beat, and are sending a strong T20I group to defend their crown. Bangladesh have named an experienced squad with Litton Das back as captain and seniors like Najmul Hossain Shanto returning. For the smaller nations, this is a golden shot at a famous scalp, and hosts Japan will hope home advantage and the occasion inspire a breakthrough moment for cricket in the country.
Full Schedule (Local, IST and ET)
All matches are at the Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin. There are two daily start slots. In simple terms: a 9:00 AM local start is 5:30 AM IST and 8:00 PM ET the previous evening, while a 2:00 PM local start is 10:30 AM IST and 1:00 AM ET the same day. The ET weekday is shown in the tables so the date is clear.
Group Stage
| Match | Fixture | Local (JST) | IST | ETM |
| M1 (Group A) | Japan vs Afghanistan | Thu 24 Sep, 9:00 AM | 5:30 AM | Wed, 8:00 PM |
| M2 (Group B) | Hong Kong vs Malaysia | Thu 24 Sep, 2:00 PM | 10:30 AM | Thu, 1:00 AM |
| M3 (Group B) | Hong Kong vs Oman | Fri 25 Sep, 9:00 AM | 5:30 AM | Thu, 8:00 PM |
| M4 (Group A) | Afghanistan vs Nepal | Fri 25 Sep, 2:00 PM | 10:30 AM | Fri, 1:00 AM |
| M5 (Group A) | Japan vs Nepal | Sat 26 Sep, 9:00 AM | 5:30 AM | Fri, 8:00 PM |
| M6 (Group B) | Malaysia vs Oman | Sat 26 Sep, 2:00 PM | 10:30 AM | Sat, 1:00 AM |
Knockout Stage
| Match | Fixture | Local (JST) | IST | ETM |
| 1st QF | Pakistan vs Group B runner-up | Mon 28 Sep, 9:00 AM | 5:30 AM | Sun, 8:00 PM |
| 2nd QF | India vs Group A runner-up | Mon 28 Sep, 2:00 PM | 10:30 AM | Mon, 1:00 AM |
| 3rd QF | Sri Lanka vs Group A winner | Tue 29 Sep, 9:00 AM | 5:30 AM | Mon, 8:00 PM |
| 4th QF | Bangladesh vs Group B winner | Tue 29 Sep, 2:00 PM | 10:30 AM | Tue, 1:00 AM |
| 1st SF | To be decided | Thu 1 Oct, 9:00 AM | 5:30 AM | Wed, 8:00 PM |
| 2nd SF | To be decided | Thu 1 Oct, 2:00 PM | 10:30 AM | Thu, 1:00 AM |
| Bronze Medal | To be decided | Sat 3 Oct, 9:00 AM | 5:30 AM | Fri, 8:00 PM |
| Gold Medal Final | To be decided | Sat 3 Oct, 2:00 PM | 10:30 AM | Sat, 1:00 AM |
Local time is Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+9). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30) and ET is US Eastern Time (EDT, UTC-4). Semi-final start times follow the tournament's standard two daily slots.
📄 Download the full schedule as a PDF to save or share.
The Groups at a Glance
| Group A | Group B |
| Afghanistan | Hong Kong |
| Japan (hosts) | Malaysia |
| Nepal | Oman |
Seeded directly into the quarter-finals: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket start?
The men's tournament begins on September 24, 2026, with the medal matches on October 3.
Which teams are seeded into the quarter-finals?
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka all receive byes into the last eight.
Who are the defending champions?
India, who won men's gold at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games.
Could there be an India vs Pakistan clash?
Yes. If both win their quarter-finals, they could meet in the semi-finals.
Where are the matches played?
All matches are at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi, Japan.
Related Guides and Series Coverage
📋 Asian Games 2026 Cricket: Full Results and Medal Table
📋 Asian Games 2026 Women's Cricket Schedule and Groups